2) There is no such thing as a semi automatic assault rifle. Your knowledge of firearms is very becoming of an ignorant gun banner.

Wishing to expand my understanding of the subject, I would respectfully ask the gun experts out there:

If I have, for example, a semiautomatic AR-15, which, I understand, is not an assault rifle, and I convert it to “automatic”, is it, then, an “assault rifle”?

Semi automatic is not an assault rifle.

Fully Automatic is.

Thanks, Greystone West. That seems to be a simple difference that most people can understand. Anybody disagree with Greystone, or have anything to add that I should understand?

Greystone is accurate regarding the strict definition of "assault rifle". However most discussions of gun control law focuses on the "assault weapon", which is an altogether different and far less precise term. From wikipedia:

Assault weapon is a political and legal term that refers to different types of firearms and weapons, and is a term that has differing meanings, usages and purposes.

In discussions about gun laws and gun politics in the United States, an assault weapon is most commonly defined as a semi-automatic firearm possessing certain cosmetic, ergonomic, or construction features similar to those of military firearms. Semi-automatic firearms fire one bullet (round) each time the trigger is pulled; the spent cartridge case is ejected and another cartridge is loaded into the chamber, without requiring the manual operation of a bolt handle, a lever, or a sliding handgrip. An assault weapon has a detachable magazine, in conjunction with one, two, or more other features such as a pistol grip, a folding or collapsing stock, a flash suppressor, or a bayonet lug.[1] Most assault weapons are rifles, but pistols or shotguns may also fall under the definition(s) or be specified by name.

The term "assault weapon" is sometimes conflated with the term "assault rifle" which refers only to military rifles capable of selective fire, including fully automatic fire and/or burst fire.[11] In the United States, fully automatic firearms are heavily restricted and regulated by federal laws, state, and local laws.

The term "assault weapon" is also used to refer to some weapons that are used by the military for offensive operations in battle, such as portable rocket launchers used for anti-tank and bunker destruction purposes and various other weapons using flammable munitions and/or explosives.

Greystone is accurate regarding the strict definition of "assault rifle". However most discussions of gun control law focuses on the "assault weapon", which is an altogether different and far less precise term.

This is why vocabulary matters and all gun infringement legislation carries definitions.

2) There is no such thing as a semi automatic assault rifle. Your knowledge of firearms is very becoming of an ignorant gun banner.

Wishing to expand my understanding of the subject, I would respectfully ask the gun experts out there:

If I have, for example, a semiautomatic AR-15, which, I understand, is not an assault rifle, and I convert it to “automatic”, is it, then, an “assault rifle”?

Semi automatic is not an assault rifle.

Fully Automatic is.

Thanks, Greystone West. That seems to be a simple difference that most people can understand. Anybody disagree with Greystone, or have anything to add that I should understand?

Partially incorrect. An assault rifle must be capable of select fire ie semi-automatic, fully automatic or burst capable. An AR-15 rifle that is simply fully automatic would technically not be an assault rifle nor would it be a machine gun since it is not belt fed.

If you choose not to own a gun, it doesn't affect anyone else. If you choose not to have health insurance it raises the cost of health care for everyone else. This is a simplistic argument but it demonstrates that you are drawing a false equivalency.

Greystone West wrote:Greystone is accurate regarding the strict definition of "assault rifle". However most discussions of gun control law focuses on the "assault weapon", which is an altogether different and far less precise term.

This is why vocabulary matters and all gun infringement legislation carries definitions.

Agreed. And that is why legislation refers to assault weapons rather than assault rifles. Assault rifles are already heavily regulated.

Patrick Sperry wrote:While Carroll essentially makes fun of the proposal and says that it is not doable there remains the fact that a couple of different towns in the country have a similar law.

So why not point out just how it's not working out in those places?

Oh, sorry about that. There have been no problems...

No problems for what? are you okay with people not being free to chose. That's a huge problem right there, but then again for the gun rights advocates it's hard to be reasonable.

Do you mean free to chose which type of firearm they would like to purchase or maybe free to chose what size magazine they would like to have. The rights under the second amendment are worthless if the citizens are not allowed to equal and opposite force to those that pose a threat. But in your world if the government just allows everyone to have a musket they should be happy with that. Choice is only valid if you get to pick. Right?

The writer here needs a bit of education. Owning a firearm is not a privilege its a right. Comparing a pet and an abortion to a tool is nothing short of foolish. I wonder if she knows every home in Switzerland is required to own at least one rifle? And the most important thing she is missing is that the recent restrictive laws imposed on law abiding Colorado firearms owners do not do one thing to protect citizens against criminals and psychos. But hey it's easy to write about something you don't know anything about. Just type away.

...or car insurance?!?! Dear Lord, that would be horrible. Oh, wait... Never mind!

Car insurance is not mandated.

Car is insurance is required should one choose to operate a motor vehicle.

But, let's not play fast and loose with the language.

Operating a motor vehicle is a privilege, not a right. And as one chooses not to operate a motor vehicle, car insurance is not required.

capice?

Health insurance isn't mandated either. Health insurance is only required if you want to avoid paying the tax. You are free to not buy health insurance if you so choose. Let's not play "fast and loose" with the language. Capice?

Fine. If you don't want to own a gun, then pay a special tax that is used to buy more guns for those of us who want them.

Greystone West wrote:I see, so then our overwhelming national concern is about the sanctity of a dictionary?

uh, yeah.

Words have meaning and we choose not to be cavalier with truth.

I think those consumed with the meaning of things like magazines versus clips are desperate to cover up the fundamental weakness and lack of truth in their arguments by diverting attention from their fundamental lack of truth.

“Don't join the book burners. Don't think you're going to conceal faults by concealing evidence that they ever existed. Don't be afraid to go in your library and read every book...” Dwight Eisenhower

Greystone West wrote:I see, so then our overwhelming national concern is about the sanctity of a dictionary?

uh, yeah.

Words have meaning and we choose not to be cavalier with truth.

I think those consumed with the meaning of things like magazines versus clips are desperate to cover up the fundamental weakness and lack of truth in their arguments by diverting attention from their fundamental lack of truth.

worththefight wrote:I get a kick out of the lefties who think there is supposed hypocrisy in smaller-government types collecting their Medicare and Social Security. It has come up again on this board today.

There is absolutely NOTHING hypocritical about it. People are not given the choice to contribute to Medicare and Social Security or not. Together they are a massive tax, and only a fool would turn down benefits out of principal. It is THEIR money.

Just show me where I can opt out of say Social Security. I would do so tomorrow. I have contributed tens of thousands of dollars over the course of my career. Assuming I retire at 67 and live to the median age, AT BEST I can hope to earn an approximate 1% annual rate of return on my money.

You individually / thankfully have saved and invested. Many Americans regardless of political affiliation aren't saving / making enough money to even think about retiring. Also, many Americans just blindly invest in their limited 401K options and don't take the initiative to look deeper at their investment options until its too late (that would require turning off the tv for at least 1 night a month). For better or worse, SS (which usually gets pumped right back into the economy) is the only thing keeping many from the poorhouse. Its not a liberal vs. conservative thing.

Greystone West wrote:I see, so then our overwhelming national concern is about the sanctity of a dictionary?

uh, yeah.

Words have meaning and we choose not to be cavalier with truth.

I think those consumed with the meaning of things like magazines versus clips are desperate to cover up the fundamental weakness and lack of truth in their arguments by diverting attention from their fundamental lack of truth.

atta boy!

That the best you got, no wonder most of the country is for expanded background checks.

“Don't join the book burners. Don't think you're going to conceal faults by concealing evidence that they ever existed. Don't be afraid to go in your library and read every book...” Dwight Eisenhower

Greystone West wrote:I see, so then our overwhelming national concern is about the sanctity of a dictionary?

uh, yeah.

Words have meaning and we choose not to be cavalier with truth.

I think those consumed with the meaning of things like magazines versus clips are desperate to cover up the fundamental weakness and lack of truth in their arguments by diverting attention from their fundamental lack of truth.

atta boy!

That the best you got, no wonder most of the country is for expanded background checks.

Well, if most of the country is in favor of expanded background checks, where are they?